CVE-2025-48869 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Horilla version 1.3.0, an open-source Human Resource Management System (HRMS). The vulnerability arises from improper access control (CWE-284) related to the storage and retrieval of uploaded resume files. Specifically, these files are stored in a publicly accessible directory without adequate protections, allowing unauthenticated attackers to access sensitive candidate information by guessing or predicting the URLs of these files. This direct object reference flaw means that no authentication or user interaction is required to exploit the vulnerability. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.5 reflects the ease of remote exploitation (network vector, no privileges required, no user interaction) and the high confidentiality impact, as sensitive personal data contained in resumes can be exposed. However, the integrity and availability of the system are not affected by this vulnerability. At the time of publication, no patch or fix is available, increasing the risk for organizations using this specific version of Horilla. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the straightforward nature of the attack vector makes exploitation plausible once the vulnerability becomes widely known. This vulnerability highlights a common security oversight in web applications where sensitive files are stored in publicly accessible locations without proper access controls or obfuscation mechanisms.

For European organizations using Horilla 1.3.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of personal data, particularly sensitive candidate information contained in resumes. Given the strict data protection regulations in Europe, such as the GDPR, unauthorized disclosure of personal data can lead to severe legal and financial consequences, including fines and reputational damage. HR departments are critical components of organizations, and exposure of candidate data can also undermine trust and lead to identity theft or social engineering attacks. The impact is especially pronounced for organizations handling large volumes of recruitment data or those in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government. Since the vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, it can be exploited remotely by any attacker with network access, increasing the attack surface. The lack of a patch means organizations must rely on mitigation strategies until an official fix is released. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so operational disruptions are unlikely, but the confidentiality breach alone is sufficient to warrant urgent attention.

In the absence of an official patch, European organizations should implement immediate compensating controls to mitigate this vulnerability. First, restrict access to the directory storing uploaded resumes by configuring web server permissions to deny public access or require authentication. This can be achieved by using .htaccess rules (for Apache), equivalent configurations in Nginx, or access control lists at the filesystem level. Second, implement URL obfuscation or tokenization mechanisms to make file URLs unpredictable and valid only for authorized users. Third, consider moving sensitive files outside the web root directory and serving them through authenticated application endpoints that enforce access control checks. Fourth, monitor web server logs for suspicious access patterns indicative of URL guessing or scraping attempts. Fifth, conduct an internal audit of all publicly accessible directories to ensure no other sensitive data is exposed. Finally, plan for an upgrade or patch deployment as soon as the vendor releases a fix. Organizations should also review their data protection policies and incident response plans to prepare for potential data breach notifications under GDPR.